Apple-picker.



JNO. 667,995.

W. H. SCHRUEDERL APPLE PICKER.

(Application led Apr. 19, 1900.;

m: NnRfus paens co, vnouuwa msnm-amm u c Sra-res rit-ice.,

lIrTIIiLIE II. SCHROEDER, OF CRESTON, IOIVA.

APPLEn-PICMER.

SPEGEFIGA'ICIM forming' part of Letters Patent No. 667,995, dated February 12, 1901.

Application filed April 19, 1900. `Serial No. 13,523. @l Dldeld To all whom ift 12m/y concern:

Be it known that IVILLIE H. SCHROEDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Creston, in the county of Union, State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ApplefPickers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the saine.

My invention relates to fruit-gatherers in general, and more particularly to that class employed for picking apples, pears, duc.; and it has for one object to provide a device of this nature which shall be simple of construction and which will permit of fruit being picked and carried to the ground in such a manner as to avoid its being bruised or otherwise injured; and a further object is to provide a picker which may be operated from the ground, thereby avoiding the necessity of a ladder or of climbinginto the tree bearing the fruit. IVith these objects in view I construct a device of this nature such as is shown iu this specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a perspective view of my invention when in use. 2 is a view showing the invent-ion with the cover removed. Fig.

is a detail view showing the picking mechanism.

In the manufacture of my invention I construct a rectangular frame c, comprising a series of rectangular braces b, connected at their corners by rods c, and at one end of the frame u. is a ring d. The entire frame is supported by a number of rods e, which are brought downwardly to meet a support f, to which they are attached. rIhe supportfis divided, the two resultant portions being con nected by a swivel g. Secured to the lower part of the supportfare a number of feet h, adapted to rest upon the ground. Mounted transversely of a rectangular bracet' is a shaft 7.5, which is bent at its center to form cranks l and l', and upon one end of this shaft is secured a handle in, through the medium of which it maybe revolved. Secured to the cranks and Z' are wires n and n, respectively, which terminate at the ring CZ, at which point they are secured to the picking mechanism.

The picking mechanism comprises two elements o andp, each of which comprises a rod q, slidably mounted in perforations r, formed in the ring d. Projecting at right angles to each of the rods q and transversely of the ring d are arms s and s', upon the outer ends of which are arc-shaped jaws t. Connected to the arm s and to the ring d is a spring t, which imparts lnotion to the said arm. Projecting upwardly from each of the jaws t at right angles to the arms s is an extension it, said extensions being each provided with a jaw i: at its upper end. Extending at right angles to one of the extensions fu. and parallel with the rods q is a rod w, upon the free end of which is secured a transverse head.

Parallel with the brace t' and directly be* neath the shaft 7tis a second shaft Z2, which projects slightly beyond the brace at one of its ends to receive a gear-wheel 2 and which carries sprocket-wheels 4: and-4Q mounted thereon and within the brace. Similar shafts 6 and 6a are journaled transversely of the uppermost brace 7T and the lowermost brace 7, and upon both ends of each shaft are sprocketwheels, one of each being shown at 9 and 9, the wheels of the opposite ends of the shafts being concealed in the drawings. Mounted at either side of the frame are sprocket-chains 10 and ll, which connect and receive motion from the three sprocket-wheels on their respectivesidesoftheframe. Attached tothese chains in any suitable manner is an endless carrier l2. Mounted upon the extending end of the shaft la is a gear-wheel13, which meshes with the gear-wheel 2 and through the mediu 1n of which the shaft 7.; and the gear-Wheels 4E and e are revolved, carrying with them the chains l0 and 1l and in turn the carrier 12.

Encircling the entire casing u., with the eX- ception of the space inclosed by the ring (Z and the space at the lower side of the casing between the lowermost braces, is a canvas or similar waterproof covering ILL, which prevents the fruit from rolling from the casing in its descent to the ground.

The operation of my device is as follows: My fruit-picker is first moved under the tree from which it is desired the fruit shall be picked. After being placed in this position the frame a is moved in the swivel of the supportf in such a manner as to allow the fruit to fall into thc opening of the canvas cover- IOO ing.,r at the ring d, and when the fruit has thus fallen into the ring d it will he allowed to pass beneath the jaws t in such a manner as to allow its stem to fall between the jaws o. After the fruit has been allowed to assume this position the handle m is revolved. This will `rive motion to the shaft lo and to the cranks l and Z', and as these cranks are revolved the wires n and n are alternately drawn upon and relaxed. When the wire fn.'

is Adrawn upon, the wire 'n will be relaxed,

and this will cause the jaws t and Q; to come together, the jaws grasping the fruit by the stem and the jaws 'U engaging the upper part of the fruit. At the same time the rod 'w will pass between the jaws t and fu and will engage the stem of the fruit and cut it in two, thereby allowing the fruit to fall down upon the carrier l2, by means of which it will be lowered to the bottom of the frame. When the fruit reaches the lower extremity of the frame d, it will fall through an opening in The canvas 'covering and into a receptacle placed for this purpose.

' Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. An apple-picker comprising a support,

a frame mounted upon the support, a cover# ing for the frame, cranks mounted in ihe frame, fruit-picking` mechanism secured to the frame and actuated by the cranks and a carrier mounted Within the frame to receive and convey the fruit.

2. An apple-picker comprising" a'support, a frame mounted upon the support, cranks mounted transversely of the frame, wires mounted within the frame and having` connectiou at one end with the cranks and at the other end with fruit-picking mechanism, said fruit-picking mechanism comprising two sets of jaws to hold the fruit and a breaker to operate in connection with the jaws, a carrier mounted within the frame and adapted to receive and convey the fruit, shafts having sprocket-Wheels, mounted transversely of the frame to receive the carrier, and means for revolving said shafts, when the picking mechanism is operated.

3. An apple-picker comprising a support, a frame mounted upon this support, said frame comprising rectangular braces connected one with another, at their corners, a crank shaft mounted transversely of the frame, wires connected to the cranks of the shaft extending` longitudinally of the frame, a ring' secured lo the frame adjacent one of its ends, rods slidably mounted upon the ring, a pair of jaws secured to each of said rods for holdingP the fruit, a breaker secured between the jaws of one of the rods, a carrier mount-ed within the frame, sprocket-chains secured to either side of the carrier, shafts havingsprocket-wheels mounted transversely of the frame to receive the sprocket-chains andia'means for revolving the shafts when the crank-shaft is revolved.

In testimony whereof I afX my name in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIE H. SCHROEDER. Witnesses:

G. H. SHERwooD, A. P. CHILD. 

